ARTICLES ABOUT ANNAPOLIS BY DATE - PAGE 5

Annapolis police have arrested four young people they believe were involved in robberies that spurred questions over officers taking photos of possible suspects. On Thursday, 18-year-old Demarcus Gross turned himself in to police in connection with robberies July 21 on Franklin Street in the Clay Street neighborhood. On Aug. 2, police arrested three others in connection with the robbery: 20-year-old Albert Gross, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy. Late at night July 21, two men walking separately on Franklin Street were jumped and robbed by a group of five to eight young men. As police officers and detectives investigated the robberies, they photographed young black males - including minors - which rankled some residents of the Clay Street community.

The State Highway Administration will begin a project Monday designed to upgrade 80 light poles and fixtures on the Route 450 (King George Street) bridge over Severn River, also known as the Naval Academy Bridge, in Annapolis. Work includes replacing poles and wiring and installing new decorative, energy-efficient LED lighting. The bridge has sidewalks and bike lanes in both directions. Crews will work on one side of the bridge at a time, closing one sidewalk and bicycle lane.

The weekend begins on Wednesday nights in Annapolis with the blast of a starting gun. That's when dozens of sailboats jockeying in the Severn River harbor head to the starting line for the Annapolis Yacht Club's Wednesday night races, a summer tradition in this waterfront community since the 1960s. What began as "beer can races" - just a casual event to break up the week - has become serious business for the sailors, as well as for City Dock bars and restaurants. "This is real sailing," said Bobby Frey, the yacht club judge who runs the races, which are perfect for the competitive sailors who don't have the time to travel the country to regattas.

Several members of the Ravens played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium while in college, most notably tailback Ray Rice (Rutgers) and quarterback Joe Flacco (Delaware). Backup safety Jeromy Miles is the only Ravens player who, as a collegian, dressed in the home locker room at the historic facility, which was dedicated in 1959 to “all those who have served and will serve in the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States.” In fact, Miles is the lone active National Football League player who attended the Naval Academy.

Annapolis police arrested a man and two juveniles for two robberies that took place last month. Officials said that Albert Gross, 20, and two boys, ages 12 and 14, were arrested in the July 21 robberies of two men who were approached from behind and assaulted by five to eight young males, police said in a release. On July 21 at 11:43 p.m. two men were walking separately on Franklin Street when they approached from behind and assaulted - one man was knocked unconscious - and robbed.

Annapolis police and local youngsters recently joined forces on land and in the bay for the department's annual youth fishing camp. The camp, in its 14th year, was held the week of July 21, and is run by officers, civilian employees and volunteers. The children visited Annapolis Recreation and Parks' Waterworks Park and Truxtun Park to fish, then went on the water with members of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association, who provided boats, equipment and expertise. Greg Shute, Skip Zinck, Jeremy Crawford, Jon Canatella and Rick Nadolny headed out with youngsters and helpers from Sandy Point State Park.

The Ravens are flying the Owings Mills coop to come to Annapolis, and the capital city is ready to greet them. The Ravens will be at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Monday for a 7 p.m. practice that's free and open to the public. Events include post-practice player autograph signings for children, activities for younger fans, giveaways, and cheerleader and mascot meet-and-greets. The session also features a youth football clinic on the field before the practice. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. It's the third year the team has made the trek to the state capital, solidifying a relationship between the team and Anne Arundel.

The average number of days Annapolis and Baltimore see flooding that causes road closures or overwhelmed storm drains has grown ten-fold over the past 50 years, the largest increase in the nation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What NOAA calls "nuisance flooding" events occurred an average 39 days each year in Annapolis from 2007 to 2013, up from an average of just fewer than four days per year from 1957 to 1963. That increase of 925 percent is the highest in the United States, according to NOAA.

A driver who struck and killed a Annapolis High School cross country coach on a bicycle last August was found guilty of traffic violations in Annapolis District Court Wednesday. Whitney DeCesaris, 38, of Calvert County was fined $1,500 --$500 each for three violations: failure to exercise care to avoid a collision with a bicyclist, negligent driving endangering property of life and failure to control speed to avoid a collision. Trish Cunningham, 50, died after the crash, which took place on Riva Road near Beards Point Road in Davidsonville.

The police chief in Annapolis on Monday sought to counter complaints about officers photographing youths. Rumors spread over the weekend on social media and elsewhere that officers were photographing African-American children in the city, and several people attended Monday night's Annapolis City Council meeting to voice concerns. Annapolis Police Chief Michael Pristoop said officers and detectives have been investigating recent robberies in which two men were jumped by a group of African-American juveniles in the Clay Street area.